MediaPemalang.com – Tensions in the Middle East have heated up again to a new boiling point. Iran stopped all peace negotiations with the United States and threatened to completely close the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping lane that is the lifeblood of world oil trade.
The threat was conveyed via the Tehran-affiliated Tasnim news agency on Monday (1/6/2026). Iran accuses Israel of continuing to violate the ceasefire in Lebanon, while the US is seen as failing to control its ally.
“There will be no dialogue until Israel completely withdraws from the occupied territories in Lebanon and stops all attacks in Lebanon and Gaza,” Tasnim said in a statement.
Strait of Hormuz: The World’s Most Critical Point
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean. About 20 percent of world oil trade passes through this narrow channel. If it is completely closed, the impact will be felt all over the world, including Indonesia which is very dependent on oil imports.
Iran even threatened to activate other fronts including the Babelmandeb Strait which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. If both pathways are disrupted simultaneously, global energy supplies could be severely disrupted and prices of basic necessities could potentially skyrocket.
Oil prices immediately responded to Iran’s threat. Within hours of Tasnim’s statement, oil prices jumped more than 7 percent. An increase of this magnitude occurred in just one day, marking the failure of diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to a war now in its fourth month.
US Fires on Tanker Ships, Attacks Each Other in Bahrain
The escalation got worse when the US Central Command (CENTCOM) fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room of the Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie tanker which was trying to break through the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz towards Kharg Island, Iran. The ship is the sixth ship the US military has neutralized since the blockade began on April 13.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) retaliated by claiming to launch missile and drone attacks on the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain. Warning sirens sounded across Bahrain and Kuwait, while local authorities asked residents not to touch the debris from the falling projectiles.
President Donald Trump previously said he would decide on a deal with Iran in the White House Situation Room. However, the meeting ended without a final decision. Trump insists on demanding the complete disarmament of Iran’s nuclear arsenal and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz without toll fees.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Iran would suspend peace talks in protest. “Violations of the ceasefire on one front are violations on all fronts. The US and Israel are responsible for the consequences of each violation,” he stressed.
For Indonesia, rising world oil prices mean the burden of energy subsidies is getting heavier and pressure on the rupiah is getting bigger. Consumers at gas stations could feel the impact in the near future if oil prices continue to remain at high levels.***
